BEAK-HEAD

BEAK-HEAD, (coltis, Fr.) a name given to a ship's head whose forecastle is square or oblong, a circumstance common to all vessels of war which have two or more decks of guns. In smaller ships, the forecastle is nearly shaped like a parabola, whose vertex, or angular point, lies immediately over the stem.

The strong, projecting, pointed beaks used by the ancients in time of battle, have been intirely rejected since the use of gun-powder.